Rotatable ball dispensing chance device



"Dec. 21, 1965 s. GELESHKO 3,224,779

ROTATABLE BALL DISPENSING CHANCE DEVICE Filed Oct. 24, 1963 INVENTORUnited States Patent Ofifice Patented Dec. 21, 1965 3,224,779 RCTATABLEBALL DISPENSING CHANCE DEVICE Steve Geleshko, 3710 Laval St., Montreal18, Quebec, Canada Filed Get. 24, 1963, Ser. No. 318,600 6 Claims. (Cl.273144) This invention relates to improvements in devices which may beutilized in playing games of chance and the like. It is conventionalpractice at parties and other social gatherings to provide various typesof games and game devices whereby the guests may be amused. It isespecially advantageous to provide means whereby a group of people mayenjoy the same game. Hitherto, it has been conventional practice toprovide game devices which allow only a limited amount of playerparticipation and for this reason such previous devices are not widelypopular.

Further disadvantages are encountered with many prior types of gamedevices especially those in which a pointer or other rotating part isused to single out the various players whereafter the rules of the gameapply. In most instances the players, having very little participationand in addition having very little in the way of visual indication ofthe games progress, soon become bored and lose interest in the game.

Still other types of game devices provide for the distribution ofvarious rules, forfeitures, and the like to the individual players.Disadvantages are often encountered with such methods since in manycases the indications distributed are not reuseable and for this reasonthe game cannot be continued indefinitely if the guests so decide.

Still other types of devices have been proposed which attempt toovercome the objections and disadvantages by the provision of gamedevices having a complication of parts and operations. This leads tofurther disadvantages in the fact that the complication leads to therequirements of skill in manipulating the device and for this reasondoes not find wide favour amongst party goers.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gamedevice suitable for use with a number of players, whereby each playerwill be actively engaged in the participation in playing a gameaccording to any particular set of rules.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a game devicewherein visual indication of participation is incorporated, therebyfurther enhancing the interest created therewith.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a game devicewhich may be re-used indefinitely and yet continue to provide enjoyment.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a game devicewherein all of the foregoing objects are incorporated while still beingsimple to operate, without resort to complicated mechanisms or the like.

The invention seeks to achieve these and other objects and features suchas will be apparent from the following detailed description andaccompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts by theprovision of a game device comprising: a skirt member rotatablysupported and finding a passage therethrough; a body member secured tothe top of the skirt member and rotatable therewith, the body memberdefining a cavity therein, the cavity having a concave bottom slopingtoward the centre of rotation, the cavity being in communication withthe passage through a port in the bottom; a pendulum pivotably supportedwithin the cavity above the port; at least one ball within the cavity; aport cover secured to the lower end of the pendulum; the cover occludingthe port upon the pendulum being swung to one side; and a ball socketsecured to the lower end of the pendulum adjacent the port cover andadapted to retain one ball therewithin upon the pendulum being swung toone side, and being directly above the port upon the pendulum being inthe at rest position, whereby the one ball is dropped through the chuteand discharged through the chute and discharged through the passage.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a mid section elevation of a presently preferred embodiment ofthis invention.

FIG. 2 is a mid section elevation of the device as illustrated in FIG. 1showing one of the balls therewithin being discharged through thedischarge passage.

Having reference to FIG. 1, a game device indicated generally as 11 isillustrated and comprises a base 12 having an upright spindle 13 locatedthereon. Said spindle 13 is adapted to engage and rotatably-support askirt member 14. A thrust bearing 15 is located between skirt member 14and base 12 and is adapted to ensure smooth rotation of the skirt member14. Skirt member 14 also defines a passageway 15 therethrough saidpassageway being in communication with a discharge passage indi cated at16. A. body member 17 is secured to the top of skirt member 14, bodymember 17 in this case being in the shape of a bottle. Body member 17defines a cavity 18 therewithin, said cavity having a sloping bottom 19whereby the bottom 19 slopes toward a centre position which is thecentre of rotation of skirt member 14. Thus all of the balls 20 locatedwithin the cavity 18 tend to roll towards this centre position to bedropped through the passage 15. The pendulum 21 is pivotally supportedon pin 22 substantially above the opening indicated as 23 which providescommunication from cavity 18 into the passage 15. The pendulum asillustrated in FIG. 1 is shown in the displaced position, the pendulumbeing held thus by rotation of the body member 17. As an aid inmaintaining this off centre or displaced position a weight 24 is locatedon one side of pendulum 21 and thus ensures total displacement ofpendulum 21 to one side during rotation of body member 17.

During such rotation, and upon pendulum 21 being displaced, a port cover25 substantially occludes the port 23 whereby balls 20 are preventedfrom rolling therethrough. A ball socket 26 located on the end ofpendulum 21 adjacent to port cover 25 is adapted to receive one ball 20while said pendulum 21 is in the displaced position.

Upon first rotation of body member 17 it will be seen that due tocentrifugal force all balls 20 will be displaced outwardly up thesloping surface 19 and upon slowing down of rotation the balls 20 willtend to move towards the centre of rotation. Just prior to the bodymember 17 stopping rotation one ball 20 will be within the ball socket26 while port cover 25 will still be occluding the port 23. This is theposition as illustrated in FIG. 1 and it will b seen that the lip 27 onball socket 26 prevents more than one ball 20 from being engaged withinthe socket 26.

Referring to FIG. 2, the final at rest position is illustrated whereinpendulum 21 is hanging in the at rest position, port cover 25 isdisplaced to one side, and ball socket 26 is directly over the port 23.In this position a ball 20 is discharged through the port 23 into thepassage 15. Also it will be seen that the lip 27 about the socket 26prevents any other balls 20 from entering the passage 15 and for thisreason only one ball at one time is discharged.

Having further reference to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the ball 20being discharged through the passage 15 drops onto a deflecting surface28 whereby the ball 20 is defiected oif to one side. Also it will beseen that the body member 17 being the shape of a bottle is providedwith a cap 29, the bottle and the cap thereby constituting a pointer. Itis preferable to have the bottle pointing in the 3 same direction as thedischarge passage 16 whereby upon final stopping of the bottle the ballwill be discharged in the direction of the bottle pointing.

In order to utilize this game device several players are assembled in acircle and the device is placed at the centre of this circle. The bodymember 17, in the shape of a bottle may then be rotated whereby all ofthe balls 20 are forced up the surface 19 towards the end of the cavity18. Upon slowing down of rotation the balls 20 will roll to wards thecentre of rotation, one ball 20 being engaged within the ball socket 26,the port cover 25 preventing any other balls from entering into the port23. Upon ceasing of rotation such as illustrated in FIG. 2, the pendulum21 will swing back to the centre rest position whereby ball 20 will bedropped through the port 23 into the passage 15. Upon the ball droppingto passage 15 it is deflected from surface 28 out through the dischargepassage 16 in a direction the same as the direction of the bottlepointing.

Each ball 20 may be provided with a different inscription thereon, theinscription being for instance in the nature of a forfeiture. It is alsopossible to provide various other indications such as numbers and thelike on the ball, the numbers then corresponding to various conditionssuch as the rules may apply in the particular game being played. tI isalso worthwhile to note that various types of games may be played withthis device the rules depending upon the nature of the indications oneach ball 20.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the instant invention provides adevice whereby a number of guests may participate in the playing of agame and further, the device provides visual indication of theparticipation of each player. In addition, the game may be playedindefinitely merely by placing the balls 24 back within the cavity 18.As a means of replacing the balls 20 within the cavity 118 cap 29 may beremovable or body member 17 may be removed from the skirt member 14 andthe balls returned through the port 23.

It will be further understood that although specific embodiments of thisinvention have herein been described and illustrated, the invention alsocontemplates such variations in design as may fall within the scope ofthe appended claims.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A game device comprising a skirt member rotatably supported anddefining a passage therethrough; a body member secured to the top ofsaid skirt member and rotatable therewith, said body member defining acavity therein, said cavity having a concave bottom sloping toward thecentre of rotation, said cavity being in communication with said passagethrough a port in said bottom; a pendulum pivotally supported withinsaid cavity above said port; at least one ball Within said cavity; aport cover secured to the lower end of said pendulum, said coveroccluding said port upon said pendulum being swung to one side and aball socket secured to said lower end of said pendulum adjacent saidport cover and adapted to retain one said ball therewithin upon saidpendulum being swung to said one side, and being directly above saidport upon said pendulum being in the at rest position, whereby said oneball is dropped through said chute and discharged through said passage.

2. A game device comprising a skirt member rotatably supported anddefining a passage therethrough; a body member secured to the top ofsaid skirt member and rotatable therewith, said body member defining acavity therein, said cavity having a concave bottom sloping toward thecentre of rotation, said cavity being in communication with said passagethrough a port in said bottom; a pendulum pivotally supported withinsaid cavity above said port; at least one ball within said cavity; aport cover secured to the lower end of said pendulum, said coveroccluding said port upon said pendulum being swung to one side; a ballsocket secured to said lower end of said pendulum adjacent said portcover and adapted to retain one said ball therewithin upon said pendulumbeing swung to said one side, and being directly above said port uponsaid pendulum being in the at rest position, whereby said one ball isdropped through said chute and discharged through said passage; and adeflecting surface below said passage in said skirt member, whereby saidball upon dropping thereon will be deflected to one side.

3. A game device comprising a skirt member rotatably supported anddefining a passage therethrough; a body member secured to the top ofsaid skirt member and rotatable therewith, said body member defining acavity therein, said cavity having a concave bottom sloping toward thecentre of rotation, said cavity being in communication with said saidpassage through a port in said bottom; a pendulum pivotally supportedwithin said cavity above said port, said pendulum being weighted toswing to one side upon rotation of said body member; at least one ballwithin said cavity; a port cover secured to the lower end of saidpendulum, said cover occluding said port upon said pendulum being swungto one side and a ball socket secured to said lower end of said pendulumadjacent said port cover and adapted to retain one said ball therewithinupon said pendulum being swung to said one side, and being directlyabove said :port upon said pendulum being in the at rest position,whereby said one ball is dropped through said chute and dischargedthrough said passage.

4. A game device comprising a skirt member rotatably supported anddefining a passage therethrough; a body member secured to the top ofsaid skirt member and rotatable therewith, said body member defining acavity therein, said cavity having a concave bottom sloping toward thecentre of rotation, said cavity being in communication with said passagethrough a port in said bot tom; a pendulum pivotally supported withinsaid cavity above said port, said pendulum being weighted to swing toone side upon rotation of said body member; a plurality of balls withinsaid cavity each said ball being provided with a difierent inscriptionthereon, whereby each said ball can be identified one from the other; aport cover secured to the lower end of said pendulum, said coveroccluding said port upon said pendulum being swung to one side; a ballsocket secured to said lower end of said pendulum adjacent said portcover and adapted to retain one said ball therewithin upon said pendulumbeing swung to said one side, and being directly above said port uponsaid pendulum being in the at rest position, whereby said one ball isdropped through said chute and discharged through said passage; adeflecting surface below said passage in said skirt member, whereby saidball upon dropping thereon will be deflected to one side and visualpointing means on said body member, pointing in the direction ofdeflection of said ball.

5. A game device comprising a skirt member rotatably supported anddefining a passage therethr-ough; a body member secured to the top ofsaid ksirt member and retatable therewith, said body member defining acavity therein, said cavity having a concave bottom sloping toward thecentre of rotation, said cavity being in communication with said passagethrough a port in said bottom; a pendulum pivotally supported withinsaid cavity above said port; a plurality of balls within said cavityeach said ball being provided with a different inscription thereon,whereby each said ball can be idenified one from the other; a port coversecured to the lower end of said pendulum, said cover occluding saidport upon said pendulum being swung to one side; and a ball socketsecured to said lower end of said pendulum adjacent said port cover andadapted to retain one said ball therewithin upon said pendulum beingswung to said one side, and being directly above said port upon saidpendulum being in the at rest position, whereby said one ball is droppedthrough said chute and discharged through said passage.

6. A game device comprising a base including an upright spindle; a skirtmember rotatably supported on said spindle, and defining a passagetherein; a body member secured to the top of said skirt member androtatable therewith, said body member defining a cavity therein, saidcavity having a concave bottom sloping toward the centre of rotation,said cavity being in communication with said passage through a port insaid bottom; a plurality of balls within said cavity each said ballbeing provided with a diilerent inscription thereon, whereby each saidball can be identified one from the other; a pendulum pivotallysupported within said cavity above said port, said pendulum beingweighted to swing to one side upon rotation of said body member; a portcover secured to the lower end of said pendulum, said cover occludingsaid port upon said pendulum being swung to one side; a ball socketsecured to said lower end of said pendulum adjacent said port cover andadapted to retain one said ball therewithin upon said pendulum beingswung to said one side, and being directly above said port upon saidpendulum being in the at rest position, whereby said one ball is droppedthrough said chute and discharged through said passage; a deflectingsurface below said passage in said skirt member, whereby said ball upondropping thereon will be deflected to one side; and visual pointingmeans on said body member, pointing in the direction of deflection ofsaid ball.

No references cited.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

1. A GAME DEVICE COMPRISING A SKIRT MEMBER ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ANDDEFINING A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH; A BODY MEMBER SECURED TO THE TOP OFSAID SKIRT MEMBER AND ROTATABLE THEREWITH, SAID BODY MEMBER DEFINING ACAVITY THEREIN, SAID CAVITY HAVING A CONCAVE BOTTOM SLOPING TOWARD THECENTER OF ROTATION, SAID CAVITY BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID PASSAGETHROUGH A PORT IN SAID BOTTOM, A PENDULUM PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED WITHINSAID CAVITY ABOVE SAID PORT; AT LEAST ONE BALL WITHIN SAID CAVITY; APORT COVER SECURED TO THE LOWER END OF SAID PENDULUM, SAID COVEROCCLUDING SAID PORT UPON SAID PENDULUM BEING SWUNG TO